| Title | : | Claim Me (Stark Trilogy, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0345545834 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780345545831 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 371 |
| Publication | : | First published April 23, 2013 |
| Awards | : | RITA Award by Romance Writers of America Best Erotic Romance (2014) |
Damien Stark’s need is palpable—his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match.
I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both.
But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, yearn for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. But our troubled pasts will either bind us close . . . or shatter us completely.
Claim Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.
Claim Me (Stark Trilogy, #2) Reviews
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4 Damienized Star-k-s
Damienized, v. To be needful of Damien, especially in the sense of fucking and dirty talk. See, e.g., Nikki Fairchild. HELL.... me!
This book is about passion, love, need, pain and scars. I can elaborate on that. I can write a whole review about that (see below), but I would be kidding you if I wasn't sharing a simple truth. This story and especially this review, is about the magnificent Damien Stark
and if you don't care reading about a gorgeous, complex, secretive, arrogant and protective, alpha male you can stop reading it, now!
But, really, who doesn't???
Picking up immediately where the first book left us off, Nikki and Damien are in the last night of their agreement.
They have dealt with their past ghosts and accepted each other, scars and all.
Nikki's portrait is ready but they don't want their contract to end. They need what they fought so hard to establish. They revel, in the pleasure and the pain.
Their relationship is hot and their attraction palpable.
Damien has finally freed Nikki of her shame and nightmares, by being her rock and sanity. By showing what passion really means.
But how will they deal with reality? With paparazzi, frienemies, ghosts and secrets buried deep in the soul. Will they be able to trust and fight, or giving in to despair and leaving, is so much easier...
I admit I had some issues with this book. I felt it dragged a little too much. I enjoyed the physical aspect of Damien and Nikki's relationship and the sex scenes were really smoldering, but in terms of action, it was a little too tame.
On the other hand, Nikki's journey toward self-respect, assurance and freedom. It was a joy to watch. Just like the way she supported Damien throughout the book, until the bitter end...
And then, there is Damien's possessiveness, which turned me on, as much as his stubborn, secretive head, managed to annoy me."Completely mine to do with as I wish."
"To touch, to tease, to tempt."
"To punish and to praise."
"To clothe, to feed. Mine, Nikki,"
"Mine to protect, mine to cherish."
Mine to rule. Tell me, Nikki. Tell me what I want to hear." "I'm yours," I whisper.
And then there is the ending.... Whatever didn't happen until 80%, it was thrown upon us, in the last 20%!!!!
The end isn't what I call, Why-in-hell-didn't-I-wait-for-the-next-book cliffhanger. It leaves you in a good place, that you just know it will crash and burn in the next hour.. *evil grin*
You have to read it, to find out exactly what I mean.. but you know me; I hate cliffies. If I'm saying this one is acceptable, it means it really is!
I will share only this: ATTA GIRL!!
I'm craving for more Damien Stark...
*ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley*
Keep reading for my initial reaction to the news:
I GOT AN ARC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello there, Mr. Stark...
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!
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★★★★★! Stark Trilogy, book 2 (3.5). The continuation of multi-billionaire & kinky lover Damien Stark’s and Nikki Fairchild’s story. The coming-together of two kindred haunted souls with dark forces set to keep them apart!
“An entire empire needing his attention, and yet in that moment, I am his whole world.”
The Stark Trilogy is the whirlwind romance between former youth tennis-pro and self-made multi-billionaire Damien Stark and recent College graduate and former beauty queen Nikki Fairchild. On the outside they are both strikingly beautiful, but on the inside they are two broken, flawed and tortured souls. This is their story of secrets, painful pasts, revenge, lust, control and surrendering it all for love!
Book 1:
Release Me
Book 2:
Claim Me
Book 3:
Complete Me
Book 3.5:
Take Me
In Release Me (book 1) Southern belle Nichole Fairchild, Nikki was propositioned by the elusive billionaire entrepreneur and master-of-his-universe, Damien Stark to pose for a nude painting. But as it turns out their romance was 6 years in the making with Damien having seen a kindred spirit in Nikki when they first met at a beauty pageant she competed in. She has since graduated from College on full Scholarship from the Stark’s foundation.
Claim Me (book 2) picks up right after the ending of book 1 and follows Damien and Nikki as their contracted time comes to an end. Their attraction and connection has been intense and undeniable from the first moment, but much stand in their way. Claim Me takes them on a journey as they delve deeper into each other’s past and further their exploration of sex, submission and control while maneuvering through envy, jealousy, deceit, lies and other set-backs all under the watchful eye of the hounding paparazzi.
Damien Stark is a combination of swoon-worthy good looks and larger-than life personality; he’s enigmatic, elusive; intense, kinky, in-control; broken, flawed; ruthless and unyielding, yet when it comes to Nikki he allows himself to be more vulnerable and human. Six words to describe Damien: Captivating, intense, ruthless, enigmatic, commanding and unforgettable.
“Your breasts. Your nipples. The insides of your thighs. I want you wet for me, baby. A little drunk and a whole lot wet.”
I liked Nikki Fairchild much more in this book! Six words to describe Nikki: Smart, vulnerable, broken, resilient, conflicted and determined.
“I want it,” I repeat. “And not because I need the pain. But because I need you.”
Claim Me has several big shockers near then end, but no cliff-hanger. Instead story leads us right to, book 3,
Complete Me for the conclusion of their story.
Interesting plot! Compelling and captivating characters! Sizzling sex scenes! Great job Ms. Kenner! I am highly recommending!“And so I struggle against my bonds, not because I want to get free, not even because I want the pain. I want what it represents. That I am Damien’s. Bound to him. Marked by him. Claimed by him.”
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: N/A
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 5 stars
************************************************
Overall rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
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Wow Mr Stark didn't disappoint me!He was so sexy and gorgeous!!!
In Claim me Nikki's portrait is about to complete and ready to display... Nikki is the model in the portrait but it's a secret...
Dating the billionaire Damien means lots of media attention.Paparazzi keeps haunting them with their questions...and each question reveals a secret which Damien and Nikki have tried to keep hidden...
I love how we are slowly getting to know Damien's secrets and in this book we get a secret revealed!!
There is so much happening around this couple throughout the story.The painting,the new job,Damien's many enemies and Nikki's mother....
Damien is awesome in this book.He keeps his secret from Nikki as he wants her safe.His fear that she'd leave him once she know what his dirty little secret makes him unable to open up with her..He blames himself for all the media attention on her which constantly push her toward the edge.More and more dirty things from his past is surfacing now making it difficult for him to keep them a secret.....
Nikki dosen't push Damien to confess his darkest secrets..She simply lets him know that he can trust her and she will be there for him always.She tells him that no matter what he tells her it will not change the fact that she needs him and he needs her...
"I want to strip you bare and press you up against the glass.I want to trail my fingers over you lightly just enough to make you awaken to my touch...I want to watch my own reflection in your eyes as you come."
"I want to feel you.I want you against me.I want to close that I can't tell where I end and you begin."
"Just one more thing.When I said you could stay?What I meant to say was I love you."
I love the passion that Nikki represents in the story.They make the perfect couple!!In this book I feel that their feeling for each other is more deepened & expressed with more openness!!In this book it's not just about the game....
But it's about desire & passion!!
The sex scenes are seriouslySMOKING HOT!!!
They have a lot sex in this book,like twice a day at least!!!
This is all about Damien and Nikki!Everything affecting their relationship.This is their chance to see if the past can pull them apart or will their love be enough for them to stay together & face the problems...
My Damien and Nikki
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BOOK #5 IS COMING OUT IN 2 DAYS!
The painting is finished which means their deal for a week together is also ending! But that’s not something any of them want. So they agree to keep playing the game they both love so much!
“Don’t you know, Nikki? No matter where you go, I will always find you.”
Full review available at
Under the Pages.
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I never thought in a million years I would get irritated and tired reading a book about Damien Stark
But DAMN this book was on another level!!
Let's start of with the so called plot of this book- Nikki is still posing to complete the painting that Blaine is drawing nude of her for Damien. The one she will earn a million dollars for.
Nikki..
Damien...
Everytime Nikki poses for the painting and Damien comes in the Nikki becomes a wanton slut!
I totally get that Damien is hot (I even casted my beloved Ian as him) but really this woman needs to get a grip.
Everytime we are trying to learn something about their story we get sex sex and more sex.
What we did find out is that- Damien and Nikki don't want their relationship to be over after the painting is over, Nikki gets hounded by the press suddenly all famous now being Damien's girlfriend, she starts a new job, some people there are jealous of her- they call the press- talk about her deceased sister, Nikki has these needs for cut again.
Everytime something happens so Nikki, she wants the pain- she want to cut- then she gets a sudden awakening and doesn't cut and she runs to Damien and Surprise Surprise they have SEX!
I got so irritated at one point with the sex I was like--
OH FOR FCUK SAKE NIKKI!!!
You want to be cut? I wish I could cut your cookie up so you CAN'T USE it for about 5 seconds!!!!!!
We do find out a few things about Damien...
Nikki how do you not have an infection? Or never bleed?
I'm sure her Cookie looks like a used Prune.
And Damien... How do you come SOOO many times in a day? I'm sure by the amount of sperm u use, you probably shooting some blanks or something. Normally your penis should be like a limp sausage or something, I'm guessing money can buy u some crazy stamina and ballls of steel!!
So yes... As bored as I was (yawning, skimming through sex scenes etc), because of the ending I will read the next book for sure. I just hope that Nikki can keep her legs close and wear some panties!
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**4 STARS.**
My Damien
My Nikki
HOT. DAMN.
Sexy, fast-paced (with a few moments that dragged a little in between), entertaining story. It wasn't exactly a surprising read up until around 85% into the story, after that the story picked up and the ending made me really want to read the next part of the story soon. Overall, it was an enjoyable read (mostly because of, let's face it, DAMIEN STARK, off course! LOL) and the perfect follow up to
Release Me. No cliffhanger.
FULL REVIEW TO COME closer to release date.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More Damien Stark?? Yes, please!!!
Got an ARC, yay!!!!!!
**ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley**
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We rejoin Damien and Nikki just as their agreement is drawing to a close. Blaine is just adding the finishing touches to the painting and, by midnight, Nikki will be a million dollars richer and released from Damien’s contract. Of course, neither of them really wants to be released, they’re so completely absorbed in one another, they have an almost telepathic connection and we’re about to embark on an emotionally exhausting journey with them.
Nikki is still tortured by the demons of her past, the need for pain never really goes away and the attentions of the paparazzi will push her to the limits of her ability to cope. Damien is acutely aware of this and reads her so well – he understands when the need consumes her and it hurts him and he feels guilty for her finding herself in situation that bring on that desire to hurt herself. Nikki’s angst was really quite palpable as was Damien’s almost constant concern.
Damien also has demons in his past that are about to roar back into his life in a way that we could not possibly have forseen. He’s still a closed book, holding too much back and not really sharing with Nikki despite her encouragement. He does eventually share with her but it takes nearly the whole book
Their love for one another verges on obsession and, despite their game coming to an end, Damien continues to dominate Nikki. I just totally adore Damien. He’s a wonderfully attentive powerhouse of a lover, a controlling, domineering uber-alpha hero and drop-dead gorgeous. He cares so much for Nikki and is THE most attentive lover with scene after scene of delicious and kinky sex - it’s so incredibly hot, I’m surprised my Kindle didn’t catch fire, and, of course, it’s deeply, deeply emotional. The sex is just super-volcanic and scorching hot.
Nikki and Damien take us on such an emotional roller-coaster in this one as we go from deliriously happy right to the depths of despair and there is a tantalising cliffhanger and their future is left very uncertain in this one as we prepare for the momentous events of the next book. I’m willing for them to find that Happy Ever After that they truly deserve.
I will say that this is four not five stars because it started to drag just a little during the middle part of the book. A big percentage of this book is just Nikki and Damien and it takes almost the whole novel for the whole plot to move on from where it begins – of course, when it does move on, it moves on in such spectacular fashion it will leave your heart pounding and take your breath away.
I’m very much looking forward to Complete Me and I really hope that J Kenner can find a little happiness for Jamie – my heart is breaking for her. She needs a man like Damien.
4 stars kinky sexy romance
Series Reading Order
1. Release Me
2. Claim Me
3. Complete Me – Expected Publication July 30th
ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley
For more reviews, please visit
Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews or visit us on
Facebook. -
DNF
Sorry I just couldn't finish this book, I got until 24% and then it got to much. I'm all for sex in a book, I love it, but when you start over doing it and there is no real story I get bored. I'm sexed out hahahahaha!
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whooohoooh new release date from July to April!!! Freaking awesome :) -
First off, I am a huge Damien Stark fan... when it comes to the cliche of sexy, dominate billionaires, he takes the cake for me! Plus I really like Nikki. I was so happy to get an ARC for this one, and it didn’t disappoint!
Damien and Nikki
There is nobody as fuckalicious as my Mr. Stark.
Nikki overcame so much in ‘Release Me’, but she still has a ways to go. Damien has proven to her that he cares for her, and he will continue to be there for her. He sees her pain, and he wants to help her, to take it away.
Damien, however, doesn’t see those scars. Or, more accurately, he sees them for what they are- a part of me. Battle scars from what I have overcome and what I continue to fight.
The painting is completed, and Nikki and Damien’s arrangement is coming to an end. They both decide that is not something they want. They want to be together the way they have been. They both mean a great deal to one another and they don’t want it to end.
“Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?”
“Yes. As much as you mean to me.”
There is a lot going on in ‘Claim Me’. Fortunately, most of it isn’t between Nikki and Damien, it is things coming from the outside. Damien has been there for Nikki, been strong for her. Now it is her turn to be there for him. He needs Nikki, but he can’t tell her everything. Damien Stark has a lot of secrets. The secrets get to Nikki, but she understands that is hard to open up. She accepts that.
“It does bother me,” I admit. “But only because I don’t like to see you wounded.”
“And here I thought I hid my scars so well.” He is only half-teasing.
“You do.” I say. “But you’re talking to an expert at hiding scars. I see them even if no one else does. And I know how much it helped me to talk to you. To know that I could borrow your strength if mine wasn’t enough.”
Dealing with the secrets, the paparazzi, all the issues... Nikki starts to crack. But she is stronger now. She has Damien. Damien is there for her, to protect her and care for her. And she is there for him. One of my favorite parts of the book, Damien’s response to when Nikki worries he is just a substitute for her needing the pain...
“Tell me- tell me what the pain does for you.”
“It grounds me. It centers me. It gives me strength.”
“You humble me Nikki. If I do all those things for you- soothe you, center you, give you strength- than thats worth more to me than every penny I have earned.”
Damien really can be the sweetest. He is understanding and caring when it comes to Nikki. And he is sexy, protective and possessive. Especially in the bedroom. Damien and Nikki were scorching hot together!
Towards the end (the last 15-20%) things really start to happen! I’m still left with a few theories/questions, but this author has a way with being able to leave the reader wanting more without having a huge cliffhanger! I really love Nikki and Damien and have enjoyed their story so far. Both characters really grew in this book in different ways. Can’t wait for the final installment of this trilogy!!!
The ending... I just loved it!!!
“Just one more thing. When I said you could stay? What I meant to say was
**Thanks to Random House Publishing/NetGalley for ACR in exchange for honest review** -
*Full spoiler-free review*
Nikki and Damien are hunted by ghosts of the past while facing the pressure of society and paparazzi in the present. But the beauty of this book is the fact that besides their problems, Damien and Nikki found peace and solace in each others arms. So beside serious issues, I got a little bit of this...
and plenty of that... ;)
Sexy billionaires have never been my most favourite topic (shocking, right?) but Nikki and Damien grew on me in
Release Me and I fell in love with them in this book.
Story pics up exactly where first book ended. Things between Nikki and Damien look pretty good right now, but Nikki is worried that while Damien desires her and her body, he does not need her as much as she needs him in her life. Also, in previous book we learnt that Damien has his secrets. In this book he finally opens up and gradually reveals them all. Moreover, I really love how possesive and passionate Damien is in this book. Also, he is able to admit his mistake and be reasonable. And THAT is very sexy combination... If you did not fall for him in previous book, you will fall for him in this book for sure.
Writing in this book has a poetic feeling. As well as the story itself, writing was sensual, tantalizing and very enjoyable. Storyline flows easily and I really liked this intelligent-like style of writing. The relationship between Nikki and Damien is extremely sexual. But I found refreshing the fact that they do not use sex as a make-up tool, the act of making love helps them to overcome problems from outside and it helps them to feel grounded and safe.
Story may have been a little bit slow paced at the beginning but it was still enjoyable read. Cannot wait for final instalment in this series and see how things are going to develop for Nikki and Damien!
* ARC via Netgalley as an exchange for honest review *
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG
Reading Is My Breathing -
Claim Me picks right up where Release Me ended. The painting gets finished as is Damien's and Nikki's time together. However, they both realize how much they want to stay together.
Nikki's having to learn how to deal with the paparazzi and more importantly with Damien's secrets. He is trying though and that's very important. The problem is he just tells her a little tidbit...nothing compared to what is really going on.
And there's all kinds of things coming out of the proverbial closets! Most you can kind of figure out ~think worse case scenario~ but I think we've only scratched the surface.
There's a whole lotta sex going on and mostly sex dealing with controlling Nikki...tying her up, spanking her, etc. Nikki's very aware that she may have possible refocused her "need" of the other thing to her "need" for Damien. But is this love?
As if there's not enough questions/shady characters, who in the heck is this Lisa Reynolds person? I do not trust her!
At least we finally get a BIG answer to a problem at the end...thanks again to Ollie. I seriously thought for sure we would get a cliffhanger this time. Everything was set up perfectly but JK wonderfully allowed things to somewhat resolved themselves. Gotta love that! Looking forward to what the next book brings.
Favorite quotes:
♥ “There is nothing about you that I could ever forget,” he says. “You are burned into my memory. Your hair glittering in candlelight. Your skin, dewy and soft, as you step out of the shower. The way you move beneath me when we make love. And the way you look at me, as if there is nothing you could see inside me that would make you want to turn away.”
♥ "When you know you want to be with someone you love, you want to get there as fast as you can."
♥ "You are my blood; without you, I'm nothing but a shell." -
As the passionate relationship between the ex-pro tennis player/star-businessman/billionare Damien Stark and a prosperous tech savvy Nikki Fairchild continues in the heat of a sexual and emotional exploration, the 'celebrity' pressure of the Stark name takes tool on Nikki, as the press drags out the past and puts them both into the whirwind of turmoil.
And after some pretty shitty things happening, rash decisions that would only stir more hurt inspite the love that grows between them...thank God, it does prevail and it gives them both hope and strength to fight off the threath to their future.
"Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?"
Yeah, in fact, Damien, I do. *wink* and so does Nikki.
Joy to the world...
On to the final part.👍 -
Claim Me is the sequel to Release Me which I recommend you read first. Nikki Fairchild and Damien Stark’s game has come to an end. She is a million dollars richer, the portrait is completed and the couple’s relationship is still hot and steamy. Parting ways isn’t even on the table for either one of them.
"No," he says. "I want to be clear. I don't want our arrangement to end. You're mine, and there are rules. And I want our game to continue."
But can they have a relationship?
This couple has A LOT of sex. It seemed that every scene that they were together in ended or began with claiming each other. To be honest, waiting for the other shoe to drop so to say held my attention more than the erotic scenes or maybe took away from them.
There is a leak of information which places Nikki in the center of a media blitz. Paparazzi are hounding the couple. Nikki struggles to keep it together for the man she loves, needs and wants.
Nikki has been open to Damien both emotionally and physically from the beginning of this book. Sadly,Damien remains secretive about his business and worries.
This book is very suspenseful and I really liked the supporting characters, they are an interesting bunch. I’m still thinking of some of the open story lines with characters like Ollie, David, Sophia and of course Damien’s father.
When Damien finally decides to come clean to Nikki about what he has been hiding I was shocked. I totally didn't expect it nor did I see it coming!
The ending is a cliffhanger, our couple is left in a difficult situation but their relationship is...
I will say that I was happy with the ending and that I’m excited for the next book!
*ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley* -
Just 2 more days to Interview With The Billionaire! And a reminder to PREORDER FOR BONUS CONTENT!
books2read.com/DamienInterview
An extra Nikki & Damien scene will be in the digital preorder/release day book! (And in every print edition -- retailer print links coming soon!)
Here's a peek!
“Ten minutes to spare,” Nikki said. “I don’t even know what to do with myself.”
“Care for a quickie?”
She’d bent down to scratch Sunshine, their cat. Now she glanced up at him, amusement dancing in her eyes. “You’re insatiable. It’s one of your finer qualities,” she added making him laugh. “Although right now I think it’s less about lusting after your doting wife, and more about avoiding the woman waiting for us downstairs.”
“You do know me well.”
“Come on, Mr. Stark,” she said, abandoning the cat as she slipped on a pair of heeled sandals that complemented her classically styled sheath dress. “I think it’s showtime.”
Interview with the Billionaire
****
Hey! did you know we're counting down to the release of
Interview with the Billionaire ?
Check out the video here!
***
Just a little update to make sure all the STARK FANS know that the FINAL full-length novel in Nikki & Damien's saga releases in just over a week!!!
Here's what one early reader said about ENCHANT ME: "Anyone and everyone that is a lover of the Starks, I highly encourage you to read this enchanting novel. The Stark love holds no bounds and it shows within Enchant Me." -- thanks, Allyson!
See the full review here!
And guess what? You can enter the GOODREADS GIVEAWAY for a chance to win one of FIVE PAPERBACK COPIES! Just visit the Enchant Me page before October 23!
ENCHANT ME
XXOO
JK
You all know how much I love Nikki & Damien ... but I have to say that I absolutely cannot wait for you to meet DEVLIN SAINT. Dark and dangerous and utterly swoonworthy, he's a man with secrets he's determined to hide and a woman he will do anything to protect. Meet Devlin and Ellie in MY FALLEN SAINT!
"J. Kenner knows how to deliver a tortured alpha that everyone will fall for hard. Saint is exactly the sinner I want in my bed." NYT bestselling author Laurelin Paige
My Fallen Saint
I've been posting a chapter a week as I count down to the September 15 release day, and you can read them all on my blog
HERE
AND DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT! If you've already pre-ordered, please don't forget to fill out
this form so that you will receive your EXCLUSIVE bonus content!!
And if you haven't pre-ordered yet, there's still time!
Coming 9.15.20:
• Amazon –
https://jklinks.co/mfs_amz_aff
• AppleBooks –
https://jklinks.co/mfs_apb_aff
• Nook –
https://jklinks.co/mfs_nook
• Kobo –
https://jklinks.co/mfs_kobo
• GPlay –
https://jklinks.co/mfs_gplay
Here's the first chapter ... just to give you a little peek! Don't forget to follow the link above every Saturday as we count down to release!
The wind stings my face and the glare from the afternoon sun obscures my vision as I fly down the long stretch of Sunset Canyon Road at well over a hundred miles per hour.
My heart pounds and my palms are sweaty, but not because of my speed. On the contrary, this is what I need. The rush. The thrill. I crave it like a junkie, and it affects me like a toddler on a sugar high.
Honestly, it’s taking every ounce of my willpower not to put my 1965 Shelby Cobra through her paces and kick her powerful engine up even more.
I can’t, though. Not today. Not here.
Not when I’m back, and certainly not when my homecoming has roused a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. When every curve in this road brings back memories that have tears clogging my throat and my bowels rumbling with nerves.
Dammit.
I pound down the clutch, then slam my foot onto the brake, shifting into neutral as I simultaneously yank the wheel sharply to the left. The tires squeal in protest as I make a U-turn across the oncoming lane, the car’s ass fishtailing before skidding to a stop in the turnout. I’m breathing hard, and honestly, I think Shelby is, too. She’s more than a car to me; she’s a lifelong best friend, and I don’t usually fuck with her like this.
Now, though…
Well, now she’s dangerously close to the cliff’s edge, her entire passenger side resting parallel to a void that boasts a view of the distant coastline. Not to mention a seriously stunning glimpse of the small downtown below.
I ratchet up the emergency brake as my heartbeat pounds in my throat. And only when I’m certain we won’t go skidding down the side of the cliff do I kill Shelby’s engine, wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, and let my body relax.
Well, hello to you, too, Laguna Cortez.
With a sigh, I take off my ball cap, allowing my dark curls to bounce free around my face and graze my shoulders.
“Get a grip, Ellie,” I murmur, then suck in a deep breath. Not so much for courage—I’m not afraid of this town—but for fortitude. Because Laguna Cortez beat me down before, and it’s going to take all of my strength to walk those streets again.
One more breath, and then I step out of the car. I walk to the edge of the turnout. There’s no barrier, and loose dirt and small stones clatter down the hill as I balance on the very edge.
Below me, jagged rocks protrude from the canyon walls. Further down, the harsh angles smooth to gentle slopes with homes of all shapes and sizes nestled among the rocks and scrubby plants. The tiled roofs follow the tightly winding road that leads down to the Arts District. Tucked neatly in the valley formed by a U of hills and canyons, the area opens onto the town’s largest beach and draws a steady stream of tourists and locals.
As far as the public is concerned, Laguna Cortez is one of the gems of the Pacific Coast. A laid-back town with just under sixty-thousand people and miles of sandy and rocky beaches.
Most people would give their right arm to live here.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s hell.
It’s the place where I lost my heart and my virginity. Not to mention everybody close to me. My parents. My uncle.
And Alex.
The boy I’d loved. The man who broke me.
Not a single one of them is here anymore. My family, all dead. And Alex, long gone.
I ran, too, desperate to escape the weight of my losses and the sting of betrayal. I swore to myself that I’d never return.
As far as I was concerned, nothing would get me back.
But now it’s ten years later, and here am I again, drawn back down to hell by the ghosts of my past.
Coming 9.15.20:
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• Kobo –
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Find all the chapters as we head to release day here at #SaintOnSaturday -
4.5 sultry, sensual, fidgety stars!
If you thought Release Me was a whole bunch of hotness, you will not be disappointed in Claim Me. The continuing story of uber hot billionaire Damien and his beautiful, albeit emotionally scarred lover Nikki.
In Release Me, Damien contracts with Nikki to pose for an erotic painting for the bargain price of one million dollars. In addition, during that time, she is to be at his disposal in every way. Their relationship blooms from there. Claim Me picks up at the end of the contracted period, when feelings have been established and a relationship ensues. Damien is still the arrogant, controlling, mesmerizing man from Release Me. His presence in a room almost magnetic. The author does an awesome job of bringing all things Damien to life. SWOON!
"It's you Nikki. You have captured me utterly, and you hold my heart in your hands. Be gentle with it. It's more fragile than you think." - Damien
When their contracted period is over, Damien wants more. He can't just continue a "normal" relationship. He needs that feeling of control and the assurance that Nikki will never leave him. So, he asks for the game to continue.....
"Completely mine to do with as I wish.
To touch, to tease, to tempt.
To punish and to praise.
To clothe, to feed. Mine, Nikki,
Mine to protect, mine to cherish.
Mine to rule. Tell me, Nikki. Tell me what I want to hear."
"I'm yours," I whisper.
Let's just say, the chemistry between these two is off the charts. The pull between these two just being in the same room is palpable. They have a need for each other that never seems to be satisfied, a need that is borderline unhealthy. Damien has serious secrets and he's doing everything in his power to protect Nikki from the backlash of them if they ever get revealed. Nikki has emotional scars dating back to her pageant days with her controlling wicked mother. Cutting is her way to stay grounded. She needs the pain. Now Damien is her replacement....as long as he's at her side, she stays grounded. Almost always.....
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Review to Come.....
Damien......
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Release Date April 23!
I am not supposed to review this one until closer to release date...so pretend not to read my review for a few weeks!
OH Damien, you broken man. I absolutely loved Damien in this. He is broken and tortured and sexy as hell.
Nicki takes on her demons. She find out how to deal with her emotional pain without harming herself. Damien and Nikki take things to a whole new level in the bedroom as their "deal" comes to an end.
This book was FULL of action. There were incredible highs and incredible lows. I loved it!
Toward the end things really heated up. So here is my rundown on the last 25% of the book.
First off there were some big secrets revealed...
And then things got a little emotional...
And then Nikki pulled some spine out...
Then things get heated and the gloves come off.
This was a roller coaster ride with huge revelations. I loved the end. Can't wait for book three! Bravo!
5 Kinky Stars! -
~ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review~
***4 Mr. Starks***
They're agreement is coming to a close which means, the painting is almost completed. They can't seem to get enough of each other and both are dreading the day it's all over. Damien Stark wants to keep Nikki in his life and Nikki is more than happy to stay. But one thing is still missing, Nikki needs for Damien to open up to her wholly as she has done for him. Their relationship is now in the public eye and secrets are being kept, making their future look not too clear.
"You belong here,"he says. "Wherever I am, you belong. You're mine," he says. "Say it"
"I am. I am yours."
I really enjoyed the story in this book. It dealt more with Damien's issues and him trying to overcome them. In the first book, we saw the tough upbringing that Nikki tried to deal with in a way that wasn't healthy. Now, we are learning about Damien's past which is quite heartbreaking and sad. He suffered abuse and had only himself to look out for himself. He had no one to talk to and a father who only cared about the money his son was bringing in than his well being. I loved Damien and his willingness to try for Nikki. He wasn't perfect but he was able to show how strong he was, even if what he was doing resulted in them getting hurt.
Nikki really impressed me in this book, she seemed tougher and more confident than in the last book. I was most impressed during the ending. She really proved to everyone just how strong she really was. I loved her! The paparazzi,scandals, and outside people were trying to get in the way of their relationship but she held her chin-up during most of it. She has definitely grown a lot to me.
The sex scenes were really hot and steamy! It has definitely improved. I loved how sexy Damien was and how their love was able to shine through. There was one scene that was a bit difficult but Nikki seemed to be okay with it. Plus, Damien had me melting so many times. I just couldn't get enough of him being dominant and possesive.
Overall I really liked this book. It was tough to get into for me in the beginning but thankfully it improved and I was liking every moment of it after that. I am so glad that there was no cliffhanger. There could have been one and I would have died before the next book came out but there wasn't. Thank you so much J. Kenner! *phew* I am really looking forward to reading the next book! I can't wait! -
'Claim me' is the hotly awaited sequel to 'Release me, and continues the story of Damien Stark and Nikki Fairchild, who continue to explore their new and extremely steamy relationship.
In this book Nikki, who is still trying to come to terms with her own demons, is also still trying to unravel the secrets that Damien holds close to his chest. It is in this book that we finally learn more about Damien and some of the secrets that haunt his past.
"Damien has seen me stripped bare in every way possible. And yet it seems as though I've only seen glimpses of him, and those cast in shadow."
Let me start by saying that on the whole I really enjoy this book. I instantly fell in lust with Damien all over again, but lets face it, who wouldn't?. I loved his strong, alpha character, his need for power and control but I also fell in love with his more vulnerable side. I loved that in this book we got to see a few cracks in his usually immaculate armour.
Unfortunately it wasn't a five star read for me simply because the first part of the book felt like it was a scene setter for the third book in the series. I love reading erotica, and everyone who knows me, knows I love hot, steamy sex scenes however my only niggle was that during the first part of the book it felt like the sex was taking the place of a more in-depth story line. Don't get me wrong, this author sure can write an erotic sex scene but I just wish a little more drama had occurred in this part of the book instead of having to wait until I reached the final 30%.
On the plus side the final 30% is where the story really got interesting for me. It was in this part of the book where I got a better sense of Damien's need for control. The erotic sex continued but it became much more about their love for one another than just the sexual desire they had, and we got much more drama and emotion. This part of the book is also the part where the author demonstrated her amazing writing ability, not only in her erotic love scenes but also her ability to give the reader a real sense of the chemistry and passion between Damien and Nikki.
"Is Damien mine? For that matter, can a man like Damien Stark - a man who holds power close, but his secrets closer - ever belong to anyone?"
So overall despite the issues I had with the start of this book, the ending more than made up for it, and it still pulled this book up to a solid four stars for me. I'm definitely looking forward to the next in the series.
"Bound to him. Marked by him. Claimed by him."
*Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. -
Fucking Fifty Shades. I’ve buried the body, and moved on with my life, yet the stench remains. Even Twilight doesn’t feel so far removed from this novel, and yeah, you’re not really all that much better either. I enjoyed
Release Me. It felt original, even if it was a borrowed concept, like a used pair of pink fuzzy handcuffs that had been recycled and reinvented in new and imaginative ways, and more than anything, I was actually excited to read this novel, so much so that I was willing to break my hard and fast rule and actually fork over $9.99 for a Kindle version. I should stop here and add that the pain was eased slightly, since I received an ARC of COMPLETE ME, which I was stoked to start reading.
Damien Stark may be every woman’s wet dream, but I really want me some Nikki Fairchild. She’s a sexual minx, and I’m probably in need of a heightened, semi-incoherent experience. If I had her nude portrait in my living room, I’d never leave. Ever. Well, one day they’d have to roll me out on a stretcher…but I digress. She’s beautiful and real and scarred and flawed, and she’s a pleasure palace of curves, and she doesn’t come on command, with moans and groans louder than a soprano in the church choir on Easter Sunday. She actually feels like a real person, possibly even the girl the next door, if she had been a pageant model from the age of six, with a brow-beating, ball-busting, drill sergeant for a mom, and a body built for sin.
Frankly, she, along with the meteor shower sex scenes, kept me reading the pages in some heightened state of awareness that nearly had me calling upon the ghost of Marilyn Monroe for emotional support. The beginning fifth of the novel or so nearly resembled one continuous sexcapade, during which I almost blacked out with a smile on my face and called upon a respirator or two. It might have been a tad much, but then this is fiction after all, and it still felt mostly believable.
But as I started delving deeper into CLAIM ME, the similarities between Fifty Shades and Twilight could no longer be ignored: Ollie McKee, the friend in love with Nikki, only in this case he’s a lawyer not a photographer; Jamie Archer, the best friend with plenty of sexual prowess and experience, ends up in a serious relationship with a fellow actor; Nikki has an old car that likes to stop more than it runs; Damien seems to have an interest in Nikki, Innovative Resources, the company she works for, and iPhone Apps that she hasn’t yet brought to market; and Giselle Reynard is the Mrs. Robinson-like figure.
But, otherwise, the writing is shades above both Twilight and Fifty Shades, the characters prove more interesting, believable, loveable, and enjoyable than either series, and hot damn, those sex scenes will leave your motor running long after you’ve pulled the key out of the ignition. But so help me, there better not be an unexpected blip in COMPLETE ME, otherwise I might have to throttle a few innocent pillows. And I still have my eye on the prize: the epic conclusion in this ongoing emotional saga. -
There is so much drama and so much desperation going on in this book, that I cannot help loving it.
In the second book of Stark trilogy, the painting is finished, the one million is payed, but the relatioship between Damien and Nikki is far from finishing. Their game continues. There is more sex, more kinky appetites, more bondage, more lovers games in public places, more romance.
At the same time their relationship starts driving the attention of paparazzi. The book was full of paparazzi chasing the newly formed couple. It was getting a bit frustrating and tiring to be honest. The fact that Nikki got one million dollars not just to pose nude, but also to warm Damien's bed, is biting her back.
More secrets are revealed. There are secrets about Damien's ex-coach (although everyone can guess what they are about), about Damien's dad, about Nikki's best friend, about Nikki's mother. There is Germany and a trial in the mix as well.
The story becomes a mess towards the end of the book. All the secrets are tangled and the two lovers are strong one time and they make stupid decisions the next time. There is also a public declaration of love, which I adored.
Nikki proves to be stronger than I imagined she was in the first book. She has substance, she is fierce and she is fighting her demons with admirable determination. Damien, like in the first book, still reminds me of Christian and Gideon. BUT I don't consider this a bad thing. -
4 Stars
This one is hard one for me to rate. I did not hate the book, but I did not love it like I loved Release Me.
You will just fall more in love with Damien with how sensitive he is to Nikki’s needs and insecurities.
The story did have its moments. We did learn a little more about Damien. However, my disappointment came when the story was expanding and then it would stop and the story was suddenly masked with sex. I don’t mind a lot of steam in books, but I need a story too. Nikki wants Damien to open up and share his troubles and worries with her and at moments you see them deal with their demons, but then it would not continue.
Nikki, I thought and hoped, would be a little more secure in the second book. You got the sense that she was trying to get there, but then would fail. Damien tells her every time he sees her how he loves her and only has eyes for her, but yet she acts so insecure for a smart girl. She frustrated me in this book. At certain parts, I was thinking, would someone as rich and successful as Damien really be with a girl like Nikki? Nikki is smart, but it seems like Damien has to constantly reassure her and make sure she is okay.
In the end, I do love J. Kenner. This book was a great set up for the third book which I will read without a doubt. I just wanted a little bit more. I do love Damien Stark AND I can never get enough of books where the billionaire/CEO falls in love with the normal girl that does not know how beautiful she is. With their tortured pasts and secrets, in the end they are just two people who love each other and want to be together.
Did I skim? A little. I was annoyed with some scenes mostly the ones with Nikki and Jamie. I am getting tired of the same old slutty roommate story.
Did I feel connected to the characters? Yes.
Do I look forward to the sequel? Hell yeah with a BIG YES!! I do love this series in the end. How can you not look forward to more Damien Stark???!!!
Pace of the story: Okay. Just when I thought the scene in the story was going somewhere, it dropped.
Positives: A story about a Billionaire/CEO and a regular girl with a whole lot of steam. There were a lot of hot steamy scenes and when it involves Damien how can that ever be bad??
Negatives: I wish more happened throughout the book. Damien Starks is a man of many secrets. I wish some of those secrets were discovered a little bit more in this book. We do get to find out some in the last 20%. I just wish they were more spread out.
Do I recommend? Yes. Simply because we love Damien Stark and need to read book #2 to get to book #3.
Book Format Read: Thank you to Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://www.shebookblogs.com/ -
WOW , This one was so much better then the first one. We got so much more info about Damien .
In Release me we met Damien and Nikki, they both had secrets, they both had issues opening up . We learned a lot about Nikki in Release Me , Damien got her to open up and talk to him about her past . She leaned on him, he helped her to start to heal . We were left with many unanswered questions , but I am happy to say that a lot of those questions were answered in Claim Me.
In Claim me we see that the roles are reversed and as much as Damien is still helping Nikki to deal with her past , she is also beginning to help Damien deal with his past , and working to help him heal from his own past wounds. This is a major case of two people who NEED each other , and who need to lean on each other to help them get through their pasts .
I love how Nikki is there for Damien in this book , she listens to him, lets him open up to her at his will and she does not push him to tell her anything he is not ready to tell . She simply lets him know that he can trust her and she will be there for always . She tells him that no matter what he tells her it will not change the fact that she needs him and he needs her .
Damien does all he can and does not want to tell Nikki all and you can clearly see it is simply because he is trying his hardest to protect her . He will do whatever it takes to protect her . I was happy to see that Damien did open up more to Nikki in this book .
I love what Kenner did with this book , she brought out so much more info and so many things that were not answered in Release Me where answered here . She definitely knows how to keep a reader wanting more .
A lot happens in this book , YES I am going to be waiting patiently for Complete Me , but this book left me in a good place .
Book Blurb:
For Damien, our obsession is a game. For me, it is fiercely, blindingly, real.
Damien Stark’s need is palpable—his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match.
I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both.
But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, yearn for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. But our troubled pasts will either bind us close . . . or shatter us completely
ARC Provided by Random House Publishing Group -
DNF
Here is what has happened so far. They had sex sex sex. Damien takes a phone call that makes him unhappy. Aw, poor guy. He STILL has a secret. Nikki wants to know his secret, but feels bad about prying. The perfect Nikki facade can't hide the fact that she still wants to know what he's hiding, so she apologizes to Damien. She apologizes? What?
I'm stopping here. Why?
Because absolutely nothing has happened in the past 6 chapters to actually move the story forward.
Continuous sex scenes do nothing for me.
I'm so emotionally unconnected to these characters that I have ceased to care about what Damien's is hiding even though we were pretty much told in book one.
Nikki is severely obnoxious with her repetitive inner musings about her smorgasbord of public faces, reasons for cutting, desire for Damien, insecurity about Damien's desire for her, and their strange dialogue. -
Beautiful. And it just keep getting better!
“You have captured me utterly, and you hold my heart in your hands. Be gentle with it. It's more fragile than you might think.”
The plot twists keep twisting and turning until you can't even wait to turn that next page. -
Okay, So I'll probably have to be really cryptic in this reveiw seeing that I read an arc and the book won't be released for another 2 weeks or so. But, I can't imagine holding back on my review for that long, because one, I'll forget to post it or two, it won't be accurate as I have so much stored to say right now. Cryptic it is then. :)
Meet Mr. Damien Stark...
"There in nothing about you that I could ever forget. You are burned into my memory. your hair glittering in candlelight. Your skin, dewy and soft, as you step out of the shower. The way you move beneath me when we make love. And the way you look at me, as if there is nothing you could see inside me that would make you want to turn away."
And Ms. Nikki Fairchild...
"Mr. Stark, if you can't tell how ready I am, then I'm afraid you're not as skilled a lover as I had thought."
This book was amazing!! At times, I was a nervous wreck, stomach tied in knots, desperately needing information. Other moments were so hot, I had to double check that my clothes weren't on fire. Let's just say that Damien has a way with words and....other things.
"I want to touch you. I want to lose myself inside you. I want to look into your eyes and watch you come. I want to take you to the stars and I want to hear you call my name whe you get there."
Damien and Nikki come together so much in this book...Ummm(pun intended), with that said let me carry on with they grow as a couple as well as individually. Nikki continues to get stronger, putting her past behind her and fighting her urges of how she deals with things. Sometimes those urges are stronger than others but she is always aware of how she is dealing. Damien grows to learn to trust. It's a slow process but, eventually it happens.
Sometimes things aren't what they seem and others are so much more. Being with Damien is not always easy, especially seeing that he is a billionaire bachelor. The paparazzi become a nuisance to them and that isn't the only trouble they have. Damien is determined to protect Nikki from everything, even if that includes himself. Like I said, Cryptic, I know, just read it when it comes out, I promise it is amazing.
"I will, if that's what it takes to protect you, I will leave you. Even if it kills me."
AND, that last 15-20% of the book, wowzers.....
I can't wait for the last installment of this trilogy. This one has left us needing that book in a desperate sort of way. No, not a cliffhanger, but definitely needing more. Let's just say a storm has been brewing, and the next book is when that storm explodes.
I received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -
5 (Shhhh) Secretive and Sexy Stars!!!
J Kenner you are much nicer than I would have been had I wrote Claim Me. You could have had the BIGGEST CLIFFHANGER in the history of cliffhangers!!!! The (un)coveted title ‘queen of cliffies’ would have been bestowed upon you! It really could have ended after you-know-what; but, I’m guessing you didn’t really want to be cyber-lynched so I say……….. good choice. And, I’d like to thank you for not giving me a heart attack – well you sort of did, but you redeemed yourself {smile}.
I ♥ Damien……………FOREVER
I.could.not.put.this.down – but to be honest, I didn’t expect anything less. J Kenner DID NOT DISAPPOINT! I love this couple so much that it felt like I finished mere seconds after I started it. Time flies when you’re in a Damien Stark induced haze. But, finishing might not be a bad thing considering it was difficult to actually concentrate at work while I was thinking about nothing but getting back to Damien once 5 o’clock hit. (Now I know how Nikki feels.)
When I read Release Me (which by the way I looooooooooved), I found that I was really excited about……… well, EVERYTHING. With Claim Me, I found myself drawn more to the relationship Nikki and Damien have – it’s not about the sex (by NOOOOOOOO means does it detract from the story – hahahahaha), it’s about the two broken people that they are, their NEED for one another, and the (*whispers*) secrets. Ooooooooh, the secrets. We knew Damien had secrets, but O.M.G. does J Kenner keep us on our toes in this one! The suspense was agonizingly wonderful and twists and turns were surprising, and I must say original. I honestly feel like nothing in the Stark Trilogy has been done before. It feels new and exciting and that’s why I love it so much.
Where Release Me was about Nikki. Claim Me is more about Damien. Nikki is Damien’s anchor, and everything is right in his world as long as she’s in it. Damien’s willing to do anything to keep Nikki and make her understand how much her needs her – that includes opening up and sharing some things he’s never before shared with anyone. While Damien struggles to make Nikki understand his need for her, Nikki struggles to make Damien understand there’s nothing in his past that could make her walk away from him.
The dialogue and banter between Nikki and Damien had me smirking and laughing out loud. For an uptight billionaire, Damien is actually quite amusing, witty, and verrrrrrrrrrry charming. And, once again the sex was off the charts hot and sexy and will definitely grab your attention.
You will close the book with questions, your own theories, and lots of anticipation for Complete Me. I know I certainly did! -
My casting for Damien:
It’s no secret that I “5-star” loved
Release Me. Damien Stark is my all-time favorite billionaire bad boy with a trouble past. He is controlling, possessive, kinky, and sexy as hell. Yum!
Claim Me picks up right where
Release Me left off. Blaine is putting the finishing touches on the portrait of Nikki and she’s about to collect a cool million for posing.
After being fired from C-Squared Technologies, Nikki is starting her new job at Innovative Resources and her one-week agreement with Damien is coming to an end. No more game, no more rules, no more safewords, no more “sir.”
While the game may be over, neither Damien nor Nikki want their relationship to end. But Damien is still a very private person with a lot of secrets that he does not share with Nikki. Can they really have a future or does Damien belong to no one but himself?
“I want to be clear. I don’t want our arrangement to end. You’re mine, and there are rules. And I want our game to continue.”
Nikki and Damien have become a high-profile celebrity couple and the paparazzi are interested in their every move. They are relentless and bombard Nikki with questions every chance they get. Questions about her past. Questions about her sister. Questions about Damien. Questions about things they shouldn’t even know about.
Will Nikki be able to handle the spotlight without reverting to her old ways of coping? Can she find the strength she needs in Damien instead of resorting to cutting herself? Can Damien deal with the guilt that his presence in her life is what’s leading her to feel such pain?
“If that’s what it takes to protect you, I will leave you. Even if it kills me.”
I really liked this book. The writing is flawless. There were some unexpected twists and turns to the story. Some questions were answered, but Damien still has a lot of secrets. I can’t wait for book #3!!
ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley -
I had some serious issues with the first book in this series, Release Me, primarily that it was tough to distinguish it from the Fifty Shades and Crossfire series. And, when I read it, there was no mention that it was part of a trilogy…very frustrating when you reach the end of a book and it doesn’t end. Lastly, the erotic elements of that story weren’t all that inventive.
Because of the incomplete ending, I was committed to giving the series at least one more book for redemption and it was a really good decision. It didn’t take long for the story to start moving down its own path, creating an identity all its own.
It starts where the last story ended, with Nikki continuing her arrangement with Damien, although by this time, the two of them are completely aware of the depth of their emotional connection. As much as Dom Damien makes claim on Nikki, she’s got just as much of a command of him. He’s still not opening up as fully with her as she’s been with him, but Damien makes it absolutely clear about what holds him back and what he’s doing to overcome it. I liked that there was balance in the relationship, both putting themselves at risk.
The storyline wasn’t predictable, meandering down its original path building intrigue and introducing new characters in the mix that begin to explain the enigma called Damien. Not everyone who’s supposedly close to these two is necessarily committed to their well being, which kept me engaged. I loved that I wasn’t certain where the clues would lead and the climax was startling but made sense, as much as it can without more details. The ending left me in a really good place and I’m excited to get to the final chapter.
Oh, and if the sexual encounters in the first story felt ho-hum or redundant, Kenner turned the heat up and created an inferno in this one. I will NEVER be able to look at or think of chocolate fondue the same way again. Damien didn’t lack creativity here and it was...you’re just going to have to read it for yourself.
Bravo for a really good turnaround in this series! I liked the story, the developing Damien, the bright, intelligent and interesting Nikki and loved their intimate moments that challenged my imagination. It’s worth the time. You won’t be bored and, if you’re like me, you just might learn something. -
Sex, Lies, and Murder Charges
I love this trilogy! So many secrets, so many lies, and so much heartbreak as a result... but do NOT forget all of the hot and super steamy sexy times. Wildfires are already a problem in LA but Damien and Nikki are poised to ignite more than one as their relationship is consuming and combustible!
I think the writing is better than a similar trilogy and the characters are just as riveting. The supporting characters are absolutely awesome. I mean, who doesn't want to be or associate with people like the sassy roommate or the brash older friend and her younger artist. LOVE IT!!! Of course, this explains why there have been several offshoots from this trilogy.
UPDATED 4/2022:
I'm at it again. Adding audio this time, having read the series at least a couple of times.
Again, I have changed things up and borrowed the audio from my local library. I must say, Sofia Willingham sounds EXACTLY as I've imagined Nikki all of these years. She does a good job with Damien but it's not as I expected him to sound.
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
